Today I spent the day at home with my 3-year-old, tackling that post-holiday chaos we all know too well. Holiday decorations waiting to be packed, laundry running, new toys scattered everywhere needing homes. And there was my little one, consistently and patiently asking me to play, to engage, to connect.
"Mommy, can you play with me?"
"After I finish this one thing, buddy."
"Mama, look at this!"
"Just give me a minute, I'm almost done."
Five, six times he asked. Six opportunities for connection that I missed because I was focused on checking boxes off my to-do list.
As both a parent and a parent coach, I know better. I teach about these moments. About how children spell love (T-I-M-E). About how presence matters more than perfection. About how the dishes can wait but childhood won't.
Yet here I am, at the end of the day, realizing I didn't once get down on his level and say, "Yes, buddy, I'm here to play with you." Not once did I choose connection over cleaning.
The decorations will still be there tomorrow. The laundry isn't going anywhere (trust me, I know ). But these moments? These precious requests for connection? They're fleeting.
Sometimes we need these humbling moments to remind us what we already know: taking the time matters. Being present matters. Choosing connection, even for just 10 minutes, matters. We will never be perfect parents, even with a parent coaching certification!
To all the parents out there trying to balance it all - you're not alone. Tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity to say "yes" first and tackle the to-do list later.
Your family's story matters. Your struggles are valid. And if you need support in finding that balance, that's what The Hive is here for.
-Katie Speert
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